Accomplished... baby laundry!

To Do Lists for Baby's Arrival...

The list making is nearly done.

The To Buy List is done being written and nearly done being bought! Online shopping has helped me out so much getting the diapers, nursing supplies, and furniture. The last few things to buy are a breast pump, a lamp for the room, and a diaper pail. Perhaps a few other random items... but not many!

The To Thank List is done, but not all thank you cards have been completed or mailed. Its like I need a never-ending supply of stamps to accomplish this task!

The To Build List has been done for Dan. We have a dresser yet to paint, but its not completely necessary to have done in the next month.

The To Learn List is completed! I've sorted through the best pregnancy, birthing, nursing, and infant care books and marked key sections with post-its. We've attended classes on nursing and child birth, so that's good. I've asked lots and lots of questions to friends with babies, and am forming my schema for how things will go. There are a few things I can't say I know now... like how to soothe our crying baby or the like, but I think our son will teach us.

The To Launder List has been made, but I'm waiting to do the actual laundry until the last set of cloth diapers arrive. I've bought the specialty detergent for the CDs as well as the special baby detergent for his clothes. Luckily, baby clothes are super tiny and won't require nearly as much laundry fold/hang up time as our clothes!

The To Clean List is nearly done, but has been in a constant state of revision as things get dirty or disorganized again.

I think I need to make a To Enjoy List... a list of fun things that we'll be able to do independently of an infant. Perhaps we could call it the Soak It Up Now While It Lasts List... because I am certain there are things we will not be doing when we get little Baby H here. We'll spend so much time cuddling and caring for him that we'll not be able to do some things. Like exercise classes, leisurely dinners out, or sleeping in.

Baby's Got (another) Bed

We've got a lovely crib for the baby to rest in for the bulk of his infant years and which converts to a toddler bed and full size bed headboard, too.

But, our little one won't be sleeping in that crib right away.

I wasn't too keen on the super-frilly white bassinets (which I am sure makes Dan happy!!), and I haven't found a Pack'n'Play I want to spend the big bucks on (not sure if I really need this purchase...) so I needed a different option. Something to keep the baby in close by during the early weeks/month, and that is a portable bed option.

Sure, he could sleep in a padded laundry basket in our room. But that's pretty ghetto, isn't it? And someone suggested sleeping in a dresser drawer for awhile, but it reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when Kramer gets the Japanese businessmen trapped in the chest of drawers.

Enter the Moses basket, so very similar to the one Miriam made for her baby brother, yet I doubt it floats. We don't live near a major river to find out, nor are there any Pharaohs looking to kill small male children. Plus, who would want to get this pretty thing wet?

I bought this one from Target using gift cards from Great Uncle Greg and Great Aunt Sharon as well as Great Aunt Ruthie and Great Uncle Phil.

Assembly of Dresser by Grandpa Zeke and Dad

Lots of concentrating required for this furniture assembly product... dozens of parts!

The finished product looks quite nice!

Stroller Time!

Dear Baby H,

You received a really deluxe stroller from Great Grandma Haid, Great Aunt Sheila, and Great-Cousin Kayla. Its ruby red and very flashy! I read so many reviews because I wanted you to be the safest and most comfortable baby when we go for our walks. I also wanted to be a stylish, comfortable momma. So I chose this stroller, which arrived un-assembled in a rather small box.

Your dad was busy at work, so I thought I'd put it together myself.

I arranged all the pieces...

But quickly discovered I didn't have all the tools I needed to assemble it. Note for your future reference, a nail file just won't work as well as a screw driver.

I did get some of it put together...

But in the end, I waited for your dad to come home and assemble it correctly. It took him about twenty minutes because he has been getting so much practice at product assembly lately!


Notice the 3 wheel construction, which you and I are supposed to enjoy. I also like that you can face me in your car seat or in this plush cosy seat. We can turn you around to face the world when you are a bit older, or if riding backwards makes you car sick!

You can take the sock monkey along for a friend... if you want to. Right now he's just holding your spot!

Won't we have a nice time?

See you in a few weeks,

Your momma

Thank you for the generous gift, GGma, GA Shelia, and GC Kayla!

Letter: Jumping, Painting, Waiting

Dear Son,

Tonight we are watching the Dancing with the Stars season finale. Its been an exciting season, and I know your sense of hearing has really improved. When the band starts playing (or I start yelling scores), you really start to move.

I wouldn't really call it kicking. It feels more like a full body quiver or jump. Sometimes there is so much force behind whatever move you are doing that my entire abdomen experiences an earthquake. It is a very brief, very enormous movement. Too bad you really haven't jumped during an ultrasound so I could figure it out! Currently, you weigh less than 4 pounds and my belly is the size of a pumpkin. A large Halloween pumpkin.

This week we've started to get your nursh underway. It is my last week of teaching school and your father has only been playing sports two nights a week, so there is more time to get prepared. Here is a photo of him painting:

And here is a photo of some cute socks I bought for you that COMPLETELY match the decor. I'll have to dress you in them and take photos. Get used to it... you are going to have some ultra-great wardrobing until you are old enough to form your own fashion personality!

We'll see you again in three days for our weekly Fetal NST, ultrasound, and visit with Dr. G. Maybe this time he'll have more information about when you will see us!

:o)

Your mother

Not Empty for Long...

Recent addition to our house (from my parent's basement, from my friend Ashley's daughter's possession).

Maybe the swing will see some swinging action and rain forest noises in 6 weeks? 7? 8? Surely not a full 10... I'll be sure to ask the good doctor on Wednesday when he thinks delivery time will be.

Dear Baby: We are preparing for you. Promise.

Dear Baby,

Though it seems like we've spent the last 7 months virtually unprepared for your arrival, here is some proof that we are actually getting our act together!

Here is your dad doing the construction of your crib:

Here is your mom watching him construct.

Here is a before of your room - when it was REALLY not done.

Here is an after picture - after your dad cleaned it up and set up furniture. It looks pretty good, but I bet it will look much better in a few months.

And here are some diapers for you to... use. More are coming in the mail.

You probably noticed there is no mattress, and that there is a serious lack of toys. Don't worry, you'll get those things plus curtains and clothes and a changing table and art for your wall in due time.

Sincerely,

Your mom

Half Way There, Little Dude!

Dear Baby,

You're more than half way done being formed. Right now, you are a bit longer than a banana, but you still weigh less than a pound. I think that your weight is probably increasing rapidly now, because I've been able to eat like a normal person lately, and have even had seconds at dinner!

Another reason I think you are growing more and more is because your movements have been stronger. Usually, I could just feel you wiggling around and getting more comfortable. On Wednesday, I felt you move forcefully. I think you were trying to stretch out those long legs or perhaps you were looking for more elbow room! Either way, I feel your strong movements now. Your dad has been trying to feel you for a month now, and last night he felt your knee jerk twice in a row.

Last week at your doctor's appointment, we saw your lips, heart, toes, spine, and your boy parts. I found it especially cool to see all four chambers of your heart pumping blood, and your dad enjoyed watching your mouth move as you slurped in amniotic fluid. Judging by how active you were, I think your mouth muscles will be ready to eat or ready to talk! Your nurse, Mary, told me that we might schedule your birth a little early, so we might have the chance to meet you before the end of July. Won't that be nice?

I have decided to paint your room blue. We aren't even close to being prepared for having you in our house, but our hearts and heads are getting more ready. Keep on keeping on, and when you arrive, we'll have our game face on and be totally supplied!

Love,
Your mom

Reading List

I've read a lot of pregnancy resource manuals... some were fantastic, some were boring, some were fear-inducing, and some were lame.

I feel like the pregnancy thing is getting under control, now that I am half way finished, and it is time to begin reading up on much more important topics, such as being a parent to an infant.

I recently purchased these titles:

1. Institute, The Guiran. It's a Baby Boy!: The Unique Wonders and Special Nature of Your Son From Pregnancy to Two Years
2. Huggins, Kathleen. The Nursing Mother's Companion: Revised Edition
3. Jana, Laura. Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality
4. Pantley, Elizabeth. Perfect Parenting
5. Pantley, Elizabeth. Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry--Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby

I hope these books are insightful resources that in one year's time will have made my life a bit easier.

Baby H is getting room in our hearts and our house!

Our current spare bedroom has been a catch-all room. It has housed a TV, air mattress, exercise ball and free weights, Dan's clothing, boxes of textbooks and school work, bins of art supplies, and an assortment of plants.

There's little or no room for an actual human being to inhabit this room.

That is, until this weekend. Dan set out to reorganize all the closets in our house. His mission was to get rid of all or most of the items in the nursery closet.

He began by sorting through his clothes and eliminated half of the total wardrobe volume by packing away summer clothes and selecting clothes to donate to charity.

Then, Dan installed more shelving on the sides of the closet. He used wire shelves to match the ones in the home when we bought it. This significantly increased the storage capability of the closet.

Next came the difficult task of sorting through the bins and boxes stacked three deep on the closet floor. He was able to consolidate cour art supply boxes into two well organized bins. It turned out that most of the boxes in the closet were my things from college apartments that were never unpacked. He helped me sort through these old memories... something I am not good at! I get tangled up in looking through the photos, reading old letters, and recalling past events. Dan helped to put these memories into more organized boxes and to throw out unneeded items.

In total, we recycled stacks of magazines, classwork, and misc paper products. We had another trash can stuffed with non-recyclable JUNK. So much stuff left that room and will be curbside come Wednesday that the neighbors will think we're moving!

I think I'll keep track of our preparation progress with photos on this site. I'll add a photo of the renovated closet when I get batteries for our camera.